The Everlasting Rose

Okay here is the next Chapter!! Please review if you like it!! Thanks!!

Chapter 4- Suicide-
“I still can remember the pain I felt when I awoke, hours later.”

Mariah groaned painfully as she tried to sit up. She could hear the lingering voices of her mother and Lee and many others. She could hear a woman screaming and another praying. Something had gone terribly wrong. Where was she? And what had happened? Mariah’s vision cleared as she awoke to the faces of all her dinner guests.
Their eyes beat down upon her frail body taking in every sign of movement and every twitch Mariah made.
“Oh, poor thing.” Mariah heard Mrs. Mackey state. “Are you okay?”
Mariah feebly sat up and softly replied. “Yes, but I think I need some rest.”
Her tone sounded so polite and refined, but truly Mariah felt the acid in the confines of her stomach begin to boil. She could feel it move slowly up her epiglottis, making it’s way toward her very mouth.
Her mother retorted, as this siege of sickness began to take place. “I was so worried.”
Dian quickly knelt beside Mariah and gently stroked her cheek. The crowd stared admiringly at the mother and daughter. Mariah jolted as the bile from her stomach filled the inside of her mouth. But quickly she gulped it down. Dian grinned and began to move through Mariah’s hair. Mariah flinched as her mother unnoticeably combed through knots.
“Poor baby.” Dian pouted, as the bile returned to Mariah’s mouth.
Mariah could feel it burned the inside of her cheeks. She quickly gave her mother a distasteful glare and let it all pour out unto the floor, including her mother’s dress.
The crowd backed away and quickly was pushed aside by a nurse. Dian screamed in horror as the ooze made it’s way along the expensive material.
“Oh, get it off.” She shouted as she ran into Lee.
Lee pushed the woman off him before she did any damage and barricaded himself by running behind a lounge chair.
Mariah stared blankly as her mother grabbed her by the arm and dragged her from the room. The nurse followed reassuring the crowd all was well.
Dian dragged Mariah all the way to her suite and situated her in a chair. She glared angrily at the young girl covered in her own digested food.
“How dare you.” She growled. “Make a fool of me in front of all the rich on this ship.”
Mariah flinched as her mother walked toward her. Dian’s eyes burned with the rage of a tiger and her fist gripped tightly and she readied herself for a punch.
But right when Dian reached her highest point of rage, the nurse burst into the room.
“Hello.” She stated, as she took in the scene. “I just wanted to check up on the young lady.”
Mariah’s eyes watched her mother, as Dian coolly walked into her room to change. Mariah was still shaking from the fear of being beaten by her mother, as the nurse checked her.
The nurse was a plump woman with large thighs and big blue eyes. She was entertaining in that she was very forgetful.
Finally the check-up was complete and Mariah’s mother proceeded from her room. She was dressed in a lavish gown, much more exquisite than the last. Her hair stuck at odd ends and looked mangled and uncombed and her eyes targeted any moving victim in the room and stoned them to death.
“So,” She growled dully. “What’s wrong?”
“I think she’s not used to the sea yet, so I would say to keep her in bed for the night.” The nurse replied, as she quickly left the room, feeling threatened by Dian.
Dian grimly sat in a lounge chair and began reading. Mariah stared at her confused and stared motionless out in space. Dian read and turned the pages of the book violently as she read them. Every minute or so she glanced up and stared furiously into Mariah’s shy eyes.
“Well, you heard her.” Dian snarled. “Go to bed.”
Mariah nodded and walked into her room, and shut the door. She sighed, reluctant to be a far distance from her mother. She quickly changed in her nightclothes and lied timidly in the sanctuary of her bed.
But before sleep could overcome the poor creature, her mother, opened the door and stormed in. Mariah childishly pulled the covers over her mouth only to reveal her amber eyes. She stared fearfully as her mother crossed the room.
“Do you understand why I act this way?” She asked, as she lit a cigarette from her pocket.
Mariah shook her head vigorously from under the sheets.
“I’m only thinking of you.” She wined, unwomanly. “You see, after your father died we lost everything all of our money, the house, the cars. And now that you’re eligible to marry, I have found a rich man for you. Only you have to look presentable, you have to make yourself loved.”
Mariah stared as the woman spilt all these words upon her. It was all for wealth, not for happiness. What was wrong with living as a pauper?
“Don’t you see? You must marry Lee, for the hope of our family.” She ended triumphantly.
Mariah shook her head in a nod, but was resenting the movement, as soon as her mother smiled and left the room without another word. Mariah stared in space for a couple moments and angrily shoved her fist into her pillow. She growled as she punched the inanimate object. She couldn’t marry Lee; it was impossible she was resentful of her decision. She angrily grabbed her robe and stormed from her room.
To her surprise her mother wasn’t there and nor was Lee. She was free to set out alone for the last time.
She quickly ran onto the deck in tears. The cool breeze blew her long hair from her face. She stared longingly at the side of the ship and climbed over the bars barricading her from the blue sea.
She closed her eyes and prepared herself for the jump, but suddenly she heard a voice warningly call out. “Stop!”
She daringly turned to find Ray staring at her with cautious eyes.
“No!” She yelled defiantly, as she closed her eyes once again and took a deep breath.
“Please.” Ray stated as he walked toward her. “Don’t jump.”
Mariah growled and angrily whirled around and shouted. “THIS IS THE ONLY WAY!”
Ray smiled and shook his head as he pulled off his shoes. “Giving up is the only way?” He questioned sarcastically.
“YES!” Mariah shouted, tears streaming from her pale cheeks, as she watched curiously at Ray. “What are you doing?” She asked, her voice lowered and calmer.
“Well, if you jump, I’ll have to go in after you.” Ray shook his head in disappointment. “I’m not going to like it though.”
Mariah stared curiously. “You don’t have to, but I must.”
“No I have to, but trust me, it’s gonna hurt.” Ray cooed persuadingly.
“What do you mean?” Mariah asked, her eyes focused intensively on Ray.
“Well, don’t you know what cold water feels like against your body?” Ray questioned.
Mariah shook her head.
“Well, it stings and numbs every inch of your body.” Ray began. “It hurts like heck. I wouldn’t want to die that way. Besides the impact might kill you if the water doesn’t.”
Mariah turned and looked down at the once friendly ocean. But now it looked like a prison of unyielding souls trying to reach her ankles and pull her in.
“Ray, help me.” Mariah stated, as she turned around and trying to climb back over the bar.
Ray grabbed onto her waist and gently tried to force her over the bar. But as Mariah lifted her one leg over the bar she lost balance and plummeted toward the water.
Mariah screamed and shouted, and Ray clumsily reached over the bar and grabbed her hand.
“Hold on.” He shouted reassuringly, as he pulled Mariah frantically over the bar.
As he did, the two collapsed onto the deck floor, both breathing deeply. Mariah shook with fear, as Ray caught his breath.
“Hold there.” They heard a voice state. “What is going on?”
Ray turned to stare at the two figures before him both stared at the two suspiciously. Both figures were dressed in uniform, making them employees of the ship. One grabbed Mariah and pulled her to her feet. Mariah’s face was pale and her eyes were alert. The other strangled Ray to the ground. Ray gagged and stared pleadingly up at Mariah to say something.
“What did he do to you love?” The employee asked.
Mariah mumbled spasmodically without making sense. She stared at the employee’s faces blankly.
“Probably in shock. Poor thing.” The one employee stated in pity.
“Mariah!” Lee stated as he ran over to the crowd. “What’s wrong sweetie?”
Mariah shook and pointed to the water helplessly; she couldn’t find her voice.
“So you tried to throw her off the ship?” The second employee growled at Ray.
Ray shook his head defiantly. “I was just trying to.”
“Shut it.” The second employee stated as she violently slammed Ray’s head against one of the bars alongside the ship.
Ray groaned and dizzily refrained from any movement. Mariah’s eyes widened as the employee readied himself for another smack.
“Stop!” Mariah shouted as she knelt down to Ray. “How dare you hurt my hero.”?
“Hero?” Lee questioned, his eyes widened with confusion.
“Yes, I fell.” Mariah began. “And he saved me!”
Ray nodded his head in agreement, and flinched hoping his movement wouldn’t cost him another smack.
“Get off him.” Mariah growled at the first employee whom had pinned him down.
Ray quickly got up to his feet and tenderly rubbed the mark left behind from the violent smack.
“Well, be off.” Lee stated to the employees.
Both quickly scattered into the lower level of the ship.
“I’m sure you want a reward for this.” Lee snapped dully.
“Oh, no. I couldn’t.” Ray refused, as Lee offered the money.
“Don’t be so gallant, take it.” Lee ordered as he shoved it into Ray’s pocket.
Mariah stared angrily at Lee, was that all she was to him money?
“Is that all you are going to do?” Mariah asked, rage occupied her eyes. “Is that all I am to you Lee, money?”
Lee’s face flushed as he thought desperately. Ray smiled in amusement.
“And you are invited to dine with us tomorrow.” Lee stammered.
“Okay.” Ray smiled, his eyes enclosed on Mariah. “I’ll see you there.”
And with that he quickly walked down the steps leading to the lower sections of the ship.
Mariah grinned defiantly, and felt the blood rush to her cheeks. Even in the cold arctic conditions they were warm.

ooOoo, Mariah and Ray sitting in a tree, lol What do you think?!?!